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What to do during a meltdown
A meltdown is not a tantrum — it's overload. The adult's job is safety and calm, not teaching in that moment.
Short answer
During a meltdown a child cannot listen or negotiate. What helps is not talking, but reducing the load: fewer words, fewer people, fewer stimuli. Discussion and learning come only after full calm.
What you can do
- Ensure safety: remove dangerous objects; don't restrain unless truly necessary.
- Speak little and briefly, in a calm voice: 'I'm here. It will pass.'
- Reduce stimuli: dim the light and sound, ask others to step back.
- Don't persuade, shame or punish at the peak — it doesn't work.
- Afterwards, note what preceded it: tiredness, noise, hunger, changed plans.
- If meltdowns become more frequent or self-harm appears, discuss it with a specialist.
Source: Behavior support materials for ASD